Ball-lacing device



1,487,558 c. J. JENSEN BALLQLACING DEVICE March 18 1924.

- Filed Dec. s. 1921 2 sheets-smet 1 March 18 1924.7

1,487,658 `c. J. JENSEN f BALL L- ACING DEVAICE Filed Dec. 3. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 677.07160 JJhueQ/z liz venia/v Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

- UNITED STATES CHARLES J. JENSEN, F NORTH PLIAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

BALL-LACING DEVICE.

Application nled December 3, 1921. Serial No. 519,757.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. JENSEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at North Plainfield, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Lacing Devices; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to lacing attachments applicable more particularly to foot balls, basket balls, punching bags and the like; the purpose of the invention is to provide a strong, durable and efficient connection for openings in which are inserted or from which are removed the inflatable in ner casin or bladder.

A furter purpose of the present invention is to provide a lacing device `for foot ball casings which may be easily and readily connected or disconnected and which will f eliminate the tedious threading of the lace string through the eyelets of the casing as has been heretofore used.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features 3 of construction, formation, combination and arrangement of arts as will be hereinafter more fuly descri ed and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanymg drawings, I have ss shown a simple and preferred form of the invention, in which:

Fi re 1 is a vertical section through a foot all having my improved lacing appliance attached thereto; eo Fi ure 2 is a plan view of the foot ball on a re uced scale;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the casing of the foot ball showing my lacing attachment in plan view; and,

e@ Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the same.

Referring now, more particularly to the drawings, wherein like and corresponding parts are designated by similar reference 5a characters throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the casing of the foot ball which is usually made of leather or similar relatively inexpensive material, having the usual slit or opening 2 therein u through which is inserted the bladder or `Etlliler inflatable inner casing 3 kof the foot This bladder or inner casing 3 is provided with a valve and protector therefor which forms part of my former Patent Number 1,374,741, dated April 12, 1921. This valve and protector is indicated by the numeral 4 and the head or protector 5 isl adapted to extend through an opening formed in the casing 1. Thls opening 6 is formed within-v the casing 1 opposite to that of the slit 2 So that it is unnecessary to remove the bladder or inner casing when applying the air pump to inflate the bladder. When it is desired to remove the bladder 3 for repairs or for 10 substitution of a new one therefor, it is necessary to o en the slit 2 and draw the bladder throug this opening. Heretofore, this slit or openin 2 has been kept close by means of a suitab e lacing fastener such as 76 lacing strings extending through eyelets formed within the casing and it has also been customary to arrange, the valve Aof the bladder below this slit or opening so as access may be had thereto by removing the lacing connection. When employing the improved valve protector as indicated by vthe numeral 4, it is unnecessary to unlace the casing 1 to gain accessthereto and therefore, a more permanent lacing may be employed which lacin is herein shown, as embodying the resent invention.

e adjacent edges of the casing which extend about the o ening 2 have secured to their lower faces y means of the stitching 7, the strip of leather 8; anchored between each strip 8 and the adjacent edges of the casing 1, by means of stitching 9, are the sections 10 and 11 carrying the eyelets of the lacing attachment. Each section is formed of one continuous Strand of wire being bent to form the intermediate loops 12 which are fastened between the strips 8 and the casing 1 by means of the stitching 9 and the wire of each section is so bent as to form the eyelets 13. These eyelets 13 are arranged at right angles to the loops 12 and pro]ect beyond the edges of the casing 1 so as the will extend within the opening or slit 2. lookin strip 14 is adapted to be inserted throug these eyelets for connecting the Same together and this strip is preferably made of raw hide in the cylindrical form as shown, but of course, any other suitable flexible material may be used. Secured to 11o the casing 1, by means of the stitching 7 is a flap 15 which is adapted to extend over the opening 2 so as to protect the bladder 3 from the metallic eyelets 13 and also prevent dirt and other foreign matter from entering the casing 1 or coming in contact with the bladder, which is liable to injure the latter.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that my lacing attachment may be applied to the casing of a foot ball and the like and when employed, it is only necessary to lock or lace the casing together by inserting the raw hide strip l'within the eyelets 13; or, when it is desired to remove the bladder from the casing, this strip 14 is ulled lengthwise, whereby it will release t e eyelets 'and the casing will be opened, so that the bladder may be readily removed therefrom, or a new bladder substituted therefor. This locking strip is preferably of the same length as the slit 2, so as it will fit snugly within the slit, thereby preventing it from working endwise when the foot ball is in action.

Manifestly, the construction sho-wn is capable of considerable modification and' such modification as is within `the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a foot ball and the like, comprising a casing having a slit or opening therein, an inflatable bladder adapted to be housed by said casing, a valve for said bladder, a valve protector, said valve protector being adapted to extend through said casing at a point opposite to that of the opening within the casing, and a lacing attachment for said opening in the casing, ubstantially as and for the purpose speci- 2. In combination with a foot ball casing and the like, having an opening therein, a lacing attachment for said opening, said lacing attachment comprising two sections, each section having a plurality of eyelets formed therewith which extend within said opening, and a flexible member adapted to extend through said eyelets.

3. A lacing attachment of the character described comprising two separable mem-- bers, each member consistingl of a single strand of wlre, each strand of wire being bent to form a plurality of eyelets, and a flexible member adapted to extend through said eyelets. v

4. In combination with a casing having an opening therein, strips attached to said casing and extending about said opening` a lacing. attachment, said lacing attachment comprising two sections, each'section comprising a fastening member which is adapted to be anchored between the casing and said attaching strips, eyelets formed in each section and extending within the opening of the casing, a cylindrical raw hide strip adapted to extend through said eyelets and said strip being of less length than said opening and adapted to rest Within said opening, substantially as and for the pur ose specified.

In witness whereof 'I ave hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES J. JENSEN.

yso 

